THE EFFECT OF FISH MEAL SUPPLEMENTATION IN THE DIET OF GOSLINGS ON THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

This study evaluated the impact of fish meal, as an animal protein source, on the growth and development of goslings. The aim of the work was to identify how the inclusion of fish meal in the diet affects body weight gain, growth rate, and productivity indicators. The experiment was conducted on three groups of goslings: a control group and two experimental groups receiving different doses of fish meal. The results showed that the goslings fed fish meal had significantly higher live weight and daily growth rate values compared to the control group. Particularly noticeable differences were observed at later ages, where birds fed with fish meal outperformed the control group by 10-20% in terms of growth. Additionally, the improvement in physical condition was accompanied by enhanced meat quality, as evidenced by high indices of mass and breast muscle development. The obtained data highlight the importance of incorporating fish meal into gosling diets as an effective source of animal protein for accelerated growth, improved productivity indicators, and meat quality. Including fish meal in the diet may also be beneficial for increasing the economic efficiency of poultry farming.